Hatch construction



c. D. BoNsALl. 2,100,126

HATCH CONSTRUCTION Nov. y22., Y1937.

Filed Sept.. 14, 1936 2 Sheets--SheeI 1 ,fun

reunited Nav. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,100,126 'HATCH CONSTRUCTION charles Davia Bonsall, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignmto. P. H. Murphy lCompany, New Kensington, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application september 14, 1936, serial No. 100,624

10 claims. (cl. 10s- 5.4)

This invention relates to the hatch constructions of metal roofs of refrigerator cars, particularly hatch constructions of the type wherein a metal hatch frame has an insulated rim portion that is welded to the roof. It has for its principal objects to provide a preassembled heat insulated metal hatch frame adapted for application to the roof as a complete unit, to prevent burning of the insulation during -the operation of welding the hatch frame to the roof and to provide for simplicity and cheapness of construction and compactness of design. The invention consists in the insulated hatch frame and in the construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specication and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

, Fig. 1 is a plan view ofthe end portion of a metal refrigerator car roof provided with a hatch construction embodying my invention;

Fig.` 2 is a vertical partial cross-section on the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical partial longitudinal section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to Fig. 3 through one side of the hatch consv struction; and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 4

illustrating three modified forms of hatch construction.

The metal car roof illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises end' and intermedate'roof sheets I and 2, respectively, that extend from side plate 3 to side plate 3 of the car with their eaves ends supported on and riveted or otherwise secured to the outstanding top flange of eaves angles 4, whose depending flanges are riveted or otherwise secured to the upstand- 40 ing inner side flanges of said side plates.' The end and intermediate roof sheets are provided along their adjacent margins -with upstanding flanges 5 that are straddled by a seam cap Ii that is riveted or otherwise secured to said flanges and to the top flanges of the eaves angles II. At the end of the car, the end sheet I is supported on and riveted or otherwise secured to the outstanding top flange of an end plate 8. The car is provided with suitable roof insulation 9.

As shown in Fig. 1, the roof is provided with one or more hatchways that lead downwardly into the interior of the car through the end roof sheet -I and a framework located therebelow. Said framework preferably comprises spaced parallel frame or' carline members I0, which ex- .the hatchway opening in said framework. As

shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the carlines and cross members comprise metal angles disposed with one flange up and facing outwardly to form a continuous supporting surface around the hatchl0 Way opening in said'framework.

Mounted in the hatchway opening defined by the carlines and cross members is a metal hatch frame I2 whose side walls extend downwardly `through said opening and are riveted or other- 15 wise secured atwise to the depending flanges of said carlines and cross members. 'I he metal hatch frame I2 also extends upwardly above the general level of the end roof sheet where it is provided immediately above the carlines and 20 cross members with an exterior downwardly opening hollow rim portion I3 formed by a flange that extends outwardly from the upper end of said hatch frame and thence downwardly and outwardly at an angle thereto with'its lower end 25 preferably spaced slightly above the plane vof the upper surface of the end sheet.

The end roof sheet I is provided above the opening defined by the carline and cross frame members II) and II, respectively, with a hatch 30 opening of substantially the same size and shape as the hollow rim portion I3 of the metal hatch frame I2; and the lower edge of the outer wall of the hollow rim portion `of said hatch frame has a rigid weatherproof connection with said 35 hatch sheet around the edge of the hatch opening therein comprising a continuous weld I4 of added metal. As shown in the drawings, the hatch frame I2 is closed by means of an insulated lid or cover I5 that rests upon the top of the 40 hollow rim portion I3 of said hatch frame.

The hollow rim portion-I3 of the metal hatch frame is provided with a ller I6 of loose or rigid heat insulating material that is retained within said rim portion by means of a closure plate I'I 45 for the lower end thereof. As shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 4, the closure plate I1 is an inverted channel-shaped member that fits within the lower portion of the hollow hatch frame rim and is secured therein preferably by means of a weld I8 50 of added metal that extends along the lower edge of the depending inner flange of said closure plate andthe inner wall of said rim. The depending` outer flange of the closure I'I terminates below the lower edge of the outer wall of the hatch 55 frame rim in an outstanding flange I9 that extends beneath the end roof sheet l and serves to support the same around the hatch opening therein. The weld I4 that secures the lower edge of the outer wall of the hatch frame to the end roof sheet around the hatch opening therein also serves to secure the closure plate to said outer lwall and to said end roof sheet. The space between the web of the inverted channel shaped rim closure plate Il and the tops of the carlines l0 of cross members Il is filled with a suitable heat insulating material 20; and the top flanges of said carlines and said cross members are 01T- set downwardly, as at 2|, immediately below the weld I8 to provide an air space adapted to dissipate the heat generated during the process of welding and thus prevent burning of the insulation.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 is similar to f the construction hereinbefore described except that the web of the closure plate and the top iianges of the carlines and cross members are' inclined inwardly and downwardly so as to increase the depth of the rim insulation and bring it below the general level of the roof.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6, the end sheet is supported around the hatch opening therein by an outstanding iiange I3a at the lower edge of the outer side wall of the rim portion of the metal hatch frame and is secured thereto by a weld 22 that extends continuously around the edge of said opening in contact with said wall. In-this construction, the outer flange of the closure plate 23 extends upwardly instead of downwardly; and said plate is secured in place by a single weld 24 located along the lower edge of its depending inner ange.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the outer wall of the hollow rim portion of the hatch frame is in the form of a separate plate 25 provided at its upper edge with an outstanding flange 26, which is secured by means of a weld 21 of added metal to the outer edge of the top flange of the said rim portion, and at its lower edge with a iiange, which is disposed in the plane of the end roof sheet inwardly of the edge of the hatch opening therein and is secured to said edge by a Weld 28 of added metal. The hatch frame rim is provided with -a bottom closure plate 29 provided along its inner edge with a depending ange that is secured along its edge to the side of the hatch frame by a weld 30 of added metal. This rim closure plate rests iiatwise upon the top flanges of the carlines and cross members and extends beneath the space filled by the weld 28 and is thus secured thereby to the hatch sheet and to the outstanding bottom age of the outer wall 25 of the hatch frame rim.

The construction hereinbefore described has several advantages. The iiller of insulation in the hollow rim portion of the metal hatch frame serves to reduce the transfer of heat therethrough and to increase the strength and rigidity thereof. The insulated hatch frame may be assembled oft the car and furnished for ,application to the car as a complete, preassembled unitary structure, the weld that secures the outer wall of the hatch frame to the hatch sheet being made after the preassembled hatch frame is mounted in the hatchway opening in the roof. It may also be desirable to furnish the insulated hatch frame and the carline assembly or the insulated hatch frame and the hatch sheet for application to the car as a complete preassembled unit. 'Ihe insulation between the closure member and the carlines and cross members is placed on the top flanges of said member before the hatch frame is placed in position. The space below the weld that secures the outer wall of the rim portion to the hatch sheet tends to prevent burning of the insulation located adjacent to said weld by the heat resulting from the welding operation.

What I claim is:

1. A car roof construction comprising a roof sheet having a hatch opening therein, a hatch frame disposed in said opening and having an exteriordownwardly opening rim portion with the lower edge of its outer wall located adjacent to the edge of said opening, a closure plate for said hollow rimkportion cooperating therewith to form a closed hollow box-like section, and a continuous watertight rigid joint between said edge of said outer wall and the edge, of said hatch opening.

2. A car roof -construction comprising a metal roof sheet having -a flangeless hatch opening therein, a metal hatch frame disposed in said opening and having a closed hollow box-like rim portion with its outer wall located adjacent to the edge of said opening, and a weld for securing said outer wall to said roof sheet 4around the edge of said iiangeless hatch opening.

3. A car roof construction comprising a metal roof sheet having a hatch opening therein, a metal hatch frame disposed in said opening and having an exterior downwardly opening rim portion with the lower edge of its outer wall 1ocated adjacent to the edge of said opening, a closure plate for said hollow rim portion, and a single weld for securing said edge of said outer wall, said roof sheet and said closure plate together around the edge of said hatch opening.

4. A car roof construction comprising a metal roof sheet having a. hatch opening therein, a metal hatch frame disposed in said opening and having an exterior downwardly opening rim portion with the lower edge of its outer wall located adjacent to the edge of said opening, heat insulating material in said rim portion, a closure plate for said rim portion, and a single weld for securing said edge of said outer wall, said roof sheet and said closure plate together around the edge of said hatch opening.

5. A car roof construction comprising a metal roof sheet having a hatch opening therein, a metal hatch frame disposed in said opening, a weld for securing said hatch frame to said roof sheet around vthe edge of the hatch opening therein, spaced frame members extending alongside of said hatch frame and beneath said roof sheet around the hatch opening therein, and insulation located beneath said roof sheet and said frame members, said frame members being spaced away from said roof sheet and the lower outer edge of said hatch frame.

6. A car roof construction comprising a metal roof sheet having a hatch opening therein, a metal hatch frame disposed in said opening and having an exterior downwardly opening rim portion with the lower edge of its outer wall located adjacent to the edge of said opening, insulation in said rim portion, a closure plate for said rim portion, a single weld for securing said outer wall, said roof sheet and said closure plate together around the edge of said hatch opening, spaced frame members extending alongside of said hatch frame below the rim portion thereof and beneath said sheet around the hatch opening therein, said frame members underside of the frame flange with the outer being spaced away from said roof sheet, said rim portion and said closure plate adjacent to said weld, and insulation located beneath said frame members.

7. A car roof construction comprising a metal vroof shet having a hatch opening therein, a

metal hatch frame disposed in said opening and having an exterior downwardly opening rim portion with the lower edge of its outer wall located adjacent to the edge of said opening, insulation in said rim portion, a plate for holding said insulation in said rim portion above the lower edge thereof, a weld for securing said outer wall, said roof sheet and said closure plate together around the edge of the hatch opening in said roof sheet, spaced frame members located below said hollow rim portion and extending beneath said sheet around the hatch opening therein, insulation in said rim portion between said plate and said frame members, said frame members being spaced away from said roof sheet and said rim portion and said plate adjacent to said weld, and insulation located beneath said roof sheet and said frame members.

"8. A hatch construction for a car roof comprising a metal hatch frame' provided at its upper end with an exterior downwardly opening hollow rim portion, the top wall of said rim portion comprising an outstanding ange at the uppery end of said frame, and theouter wall of said rim portion comprising a plate having an outstanding top flange contacting atwise with the edges of the two anges substantially flush with one another, a continuous weld uniting said edges together, a filler in said hollow rim portion, and

a plate secured to said frame for closing the rim port-ion thereof.

9. As an article of manufacture, a roof sheet and insulated metal hatch frame assembly adapted for application to a car roof as a complete preassembled unit, said roof sheet having a hatch opening therein, and said hatch frame extending downwardly through said opening and having a downwardly opening rim portion extending above said sheet with the lower edge of its outer wall welded thereto around the edge of the opening therein, heat insulation in said hollow rim portion, and a plate-like closure member for said hollow rirn portion for retaining said insulation therein.

10.A As an article of manufacture, a heat insulated metal hatch frame adapted for application to a car rooi` as a complete preassembled unit, said frame having a hollow downwardly opening rim portion, heat insulating material in said rim portion, a closure Lor said rim portion, and means for securing said closure to said frame before its application to the car roof, said closure having a portion disposed adjacent to the outer wall of said rim portion and adapted to be secured to said wall and to the roof after the frame is mounted thereon.

CHARLES DAVID BONSALL. 

